Oy! M1XRFTW has to be Zone 2 (& 3 & 4)

Just got my M1XRFTW. I'm upgrading from the M1XRF2G. Turns out the M1XRFTW has to be Data Bus # 2. If you expand zones, they have to be first.
 
I wonder what the odds are of ElkRP automagically updating my Zones 17->48 definitions to 65->96 without me doing anything. I'm betting zero, but maybe i'll be pleasantly surprised.
 
EDIT: Not Zone 2, Data bus #2/3/4. Too many rye cocktails with dinner.

Yup.   Zero.  Don't forget to tweak your rules.
 
In the old days, I'd have been tempted to hack the database and fix it.
But, like Roger Murtaugh, "I'm getting too old for this sh!t".
 
Trying out the Kirkland (Costco) Craft Beers tonight.  Not bad for $20 a case.

well this is going badly. I moved two Zone Expanders from G2&G3->G5 & G6, left the G4 expander alone, and plopped the M1XRTW into G2. (left G3 open in case I want a 2nd group of wireless sensors).
 
Now those zone expanders are barely working. Zones are either wrong or incredibly slow to response. I double-checked the termination jumpers and they seem to be correct. I'll double check tomorrow as i'm beat but its pretty simple stuff.
 
The token lemonade to be made is that I got so annoyed I cleared nearly all the zone fields to start from scratch. Its still not working even with simple reed sensor zones, but at least rebuilding this from scratch will remind me how I set this all up almost 10 years ago. I suppose thats valuable. How, I have no idea, but something...

IVB said:

The token lemonade to be made is that I got so annoyed I cleared nearly all the zone fields to start from scratch. Its still not working even with simple reed sensor zones, but at least rebuilding this from scratch will remind me how I set this all up almost 10 years ago. I suppose thats valuable. How, I have no idea, but something...

Click to expand...

 
I couldn't agree more. In the long run it will probably turn out to be the short way to getting the thing done. It really isn't THAT big a deal and if all goes well you can do it on a Saturday afternoon. Spinning in place is the worst.
 
Mike.

Have you enrolled the devices since adding the new wireless adapter?

mikefamig said:

Have you enrolled the devices since adding the new wireless adapter?

Click to expand...

Yeah tried 3 times. I got it working, in the end I decided to upgrade the M1 bootware, firmware, and the firmware for the keypads and 1 other thing. It started working, now in the process of rebuilding it all. The wireless sensors work great, here's hoping the two way wireless work better than the older ones I had and ripped out.

There is a minimum M1 firmware and bootware version to support the m1rftw. I've been very happy with the M1rftw here. I have a handful of window/door sensors and 1 smoke detector and they work fine.
 
Mike.

I struggled with my DIY install and I rebuilt the software configuration more than once and my best advice is to go forward slowly and carefully. Build it up slowly and give each new device a day or two of testing before going forward. i don't mean to add each zone one at a time but an input or output expander should be thoroughly tested one at a time. As a newbie it helped me to learn what I was doing right and what I was doing not so right.
 
Mike.

well, its all been working great for 9 years so the issue is being able to access it. The wired sensors themselves are fine. I have 3 zone expanders as I went with the following approach:
 
M1 panel: smokes, easy stuff to wire to that location (very little)
 
Secondary panel in basement, 44" can:
Zone Expander 1: "Mission Critical" security zones, perimeter, motions
Zone Expander 2: nice-to-haves, water sensors, temperature sensors, etc
Zone Expander 3: Automation oriented zones. closet doors (for auto light on/off), patio gate, 
 
It took a few iterations to get to that. I fried an expander board many years ago and had everything everywhere, sucked to get at least security back up. Now if a board fails, unless its expander board 1 I can take my time getting to it. (And if its ZE1, I have a new backup board sitting on the shelf).

Moving zones is especially painful - Elk should have provided a migration tool.
 
You can copy and paste hardwired zones in ElkRP using right mouse click “Copy” and “Paste” menu choices. Wireless zones don’t work very well because the TXID and wireless menu values do not copy (Elk – please fix). After you move the items, you can delete the old values.  Also, VERY important to make a backup copy of your account – just in case process goes badly.
 
I really like the Elk wireless so far - pretty much same variety of sensors as GE. I will know more in 6 months time when no false alarms have triggered.
 
Just a few installation tips. Don’t use the Elk batteries - buy a new set of CR2032 batteries. Also, make sure you install window sensor on right side double hung window; otherwise changing battery will be near impossible.